Applications from 1 Kings

As the story continues we see what was told to Ahab (v.22) come to pass. Ben-hadad forms another army to come at Israel in the plains. It is said that Israel’s army looks like 2 little flocks of goats while the Syrians filled the country. The prophet comes back to Ahab to tell him that once again God will give victory to prove Yahweh is Lord. As the war begins Israel kills 100,000 Syrians in 1 day! While the rest flee, 27,000 were killed when a wall fell on them. So Ben-hadad goes and hides in Aphek.

The Application:

Here we see Israel’s defeated foe gather logic to convince themselves to fight against Israel again. They previously outnumbered Israel and still lost. Now, due to some trumped up advice, they decide to try again.

They just keep coming back. This is not a fight just against Israel, it is a fight against God. Then and now enemies of God can’t help themselves in fighting against anything Godly.

You and I must live with an awareness of this. They kept coming back then, they will keep coming back now. As long as Satan has any power or liberty to act against God in this world…he will keep coming back. As discouraging as it may be, we can never put down our sword in this life. They will keep coming back.

Pastor Chanc Strickland
Harpeth Baptist Church
Kingston Springs, TN

This blog post was adapted from a sermon preached at Harpeth Baptist Church in the summer of 2012.